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Timpson boss wins philanthropy award
John Timpson and his wife Alex have been awarded this year’s Beacon Prize for Family Business Philanthropist by the Institute for Family Business (IFB).
The award, given in conjunction with the Beacon Fellowship at the IFB's Family Office Forum yesterday, was given in recognition of the philanthropic contribution the Timpsons have made over the years in donating their time, money and skills to a variety of charities.
The couple have together fostered more than 90 children, John has also mentored many of the organisations that the family business, Timpsons, has supported. Timpsons is at the forefront of a pioneering new scheme designed to integrate offenders into society more quickly by giving them jobs as soon as they leave work.
The IFB's director-general, Grant Gordon, said: “This award to John and Alex Timpson recognises the outstanding role they have personally played in enhancing the well-being of those less fortunate.
“Leading by example, they have shown an impressive commitment to social responsibility and illustrated to a wider audience that philanthropy can also benefit the business as a whole.”
John Timpson said: "We are proud to have made a difference to peoples' lives through our work with children and by providing training and employment for people leaving prison. But we always recognise that charity begins at home. After our close family our next priority is to look after the welfare of loyal work colleagues.
"Our work with ChildLine, After Adoption and the Prison Service has brought an added dimension to Timpson. The example of public service set by Alex's fostering has inspired a large number of Timpson colleagues to get fully involved in our charities programme."
